Saints sign former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.
METAIRIE, La. — Dez Bryant has found a new team, agreeing to join the already prolific offense of the surging New Orleans Saints.
The former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, who has been looking for an NFL home since becoming a free agent in April, will now have a chance to catch passes from one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history in New Orleans’ Drew Brees.
The three-time Pro Bowler and the Saints agreed to contract terms Wednesday, and it remains unclear to what extent Bryant will play when New Orleans (7-1) visits Cincinnati on Sunday.
Bryant, 30, spent his first eight years in the NFL with Dallas and last season caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six touchdowns, including a 50-yard scoring play, for the Cowboys.
Seeking salary cap relief, the Cowboys released Bryant after last season with two years remaining on the receiver’s five-year, $70 million contract.
Last season was Bryant’s best since he caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014, which at the time was his third consecutive season with at least 1,200 yards receiving. He signed his last Cowboys contract right after that, but has not approached that level of production since — a central reason Dallas released him in April.
Bryant was among several receivers to work out for the Saints on Tuesday.
Bryant’s return to the NFL with the Saints means he could play against his former club in a few weeks. The Saints play at Dallas on Nov. 29.
League fines Dolphins, Gase
The NFL fined the Miami Dolphins $30,000 and coach Adam Gase $15,000 for an injury report violation a month ago involving quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The Dolphins listed Tannehill as participating fully in practice on the Thursday before the Week 6 game against Chicago. In fact, Tannehill was limited because of a throwing shoulder injury that forced him to miss the game, and he hasn’t played since.
Tannehill will miss his fifth game in a row Sunday when Miami plays at Green Bay.
Odds and ends
Browns general manager John Dorsey is heading the team’s search for a new coach. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam recently fired coach Hue Jackson, who won just three of 40 games over two-plus seasons. It was assumed Dorsey would lead the pursuit for Jackson’s successor, and vice president of communications Peter JohnBaptiste confirmed that to dispel speculation the Haslams would not involve Dorsey. …
New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has a strained right foot leaving his status for the team’s game Sunday against Buffalo in doubt. …
The Atlanta Falcons signed defensive end Bruce Irvin to a one-year deal. Irvin, cut by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, became a free agent after clearing waivers on Tuesday with $3.8 million remaining on his contract.